Notification requirements for WTO Members: who needs to notify what, by when and how?

Notification requirements for WTO Members: who needs to notify what, by when and how?

Section I - Transparency notifications

In broad terms, the TFA states that WTO Members shall publish information online on import and export procedures while within available resources, establishing contact points to respond to enquiries. There isn't a specific format to submit these notifications. The Secretariat will make this information available on each Member profile of this website.

Section II – ABC Notifications

To benefit from special and differential treatment, developing and LDC Members must notify when they will implement each trade facilitation measure using A, B and C categories. A notification template that Members may wish to follow in preparing their category A, B or C notification is available here.

The TFA sets out the following timelines for these notifications:

Type

Developing Members(due by)

Least Developed Countries(due by)

Developed Members (due by)

Provide A, B, C designations

22 February 2017

22 February 2018

Not applicable

Provide indicative dates for Cat. B

22 February 2017

22 February 2018

Not applicable

Provide indicative dates for Cat. C

22 February 2017

22 February 2019

Not applicable

Provide definitive dates for Cat. B

22 February 2018

22 February 2021

Not applicable

Provide definitive dates for Cat. C

22 August 2019

22 August 2022

Not applicable

Provide arrangements on TACB for Cat. C

22 February 2018

22 February 2021

22 February 2018

22 February 2021

Provide progress on TACB for Cat. C

22 August 2019

22 August 2022

22 August 2019

22 August 2022

Section II – Information on assistance and capacity building

Donor Members have committed to submit information on the assistance and support for capacity building (TACB) that was disbursed - and where available that is committed - to the Committee on Trade Facilitation through the format contained in Annex 1 or through the OECD Creditor Reporting System (OECD Members only). They are also to submit different contact points and information on the process and mechanism for requesting assistance.